Production of Ceramic Membrane Based on Acid-and Alkali-Activated Metakaolinite as Cooling Material for Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Cell

Abstract

Ceramic membrane based on acid-and alkali-activated metakaolinite has been produced. It was tested as a cooling material for monocrystalline silicon solar cells. The membrane was made by several stages, such as calcination of natural kaolinite at 600°C for 6 hours to obtain metakaolinite, activation of metakaolinite by concentrated HCl and KOH, and preparation of ceramic membrane. Kaolinite, metakaolinite, and activated metakaolinite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR), and gas sorption analyzer (GSA). Diffractogram of XRD showed that there was a structural change between activated metakaolinite and natural kaolinite. XRF analysis indicated that the Si/Al of HCl activated metakaolinite was three times higher than natural kaolinite. Activated metakaolinite was made into the membrane by adding a binder, then heated at 800 °C for 6 hours. Photovoltaic (PV) cells with and without cooling material were then analyzed their electrical performances. It was found that the maximum energy conversion yield of PV cells without using cooling material was 2.30%, while the maximum energy conversion yield of PV cells with cooling material of meta-kaolinite activated by HCl and KOH were 2.72% and 2.94%, respectively.